Necropsy results in horse ranch case released

BARRON - Post-mortem tests on two of four horses found dead at a rural Milltown horse ranch known as Otter Creek Ranch shows that that the animals likely died of a combination of factors including the quality and quantity of feed being fed, access or availability to the feed being fed and the lack of treatment for intestinal parasitism. A four-page summary of necropsies performed at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Lab in Barron notes that the two adult horses tested had “extremely poor body condition with intestinal parasitism and mild to moderate secondary bacterial pneumonia." Michael Feist, 58, of Milltown, faces 34 criminal charges of animal mistreatment and his case now moves on to the next phase after Feist and his attorney waived their right to a preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty to all charges on Tuesday, Dec. 17, before Judge Molly GaleWyrick in Polk County Circuit Court. The results of the necropsies were released Friday, Dec. 20, by the county. Feist remains free on a $10,000 signature bond, with a court order to provide adequate food and water to all animals on the ranch. They are also to allow for unfettered access by law enforcement officials to ensure that safe treatment. GaleWyrick set a final pretrial hearing date for Feb. 28, 2014. No trial date has been set as of yet. - Gary King